The Bod's Guide to Combat Engineer

This is a simple guide on how to play combat engineer. It may not be pretty but it does its job; give you information.

Beginning

To start things off, while playing combat engineer you have to remember that you are not independednt of the team. Remember that you are best among a crowd, and you should remember to help your team out, as well. This is Teamfortress 2, after all.

Dispensers

If you are playing right, your dispenser should be virtually useless to you (you should keep moving as a combat engie). But, you have it, and you should at least let someone else use it. Here is who may need it:

SNIPERS:
Snipers might be right next to the spawn, but they could still use to stay out there as much as they can. If they run in to heal up or get some ammo you lose an important part of the team. It may mean one extra guy survives on the other team, and that guy could really mow ♥♥♥♥ down. Leave your dispenser where it may be easy for a sniper to get access to it while still being able to get a couple shots in on the other team.

OTHER ENGINEERS:
You might not be the only engineer out there, so if you aren't leave it where that other engie might be. That engineer might need more metal because he is building a nest. Double the dispensers, double the material. That engie will be able to keep all his stuff up and assemble without having to worry about running out as quickly. And it may help create a very strong nest that can be fantastic for defense.

ANYONE WHO IS FIGHTING:
If your team is getting shot at and needs health or ammo, place a dispenser down where the other team cannot get to. They might have to move back but its better than losing a location altogether. Also, with enough defense you might be able to place down a teleporter and help them even more. But please don't be that moron that places down a dispenser right where opponents can see and destroy it.

Teleporters

It should be pretty obvious the usefulness of a teleporter. It moves you and your team. Now, being a combat engineer, you probably aren't going to be there to keep it safe. So, remember to put it in an obscure spot so the other team doesn't find it. Also, this can lead to a sentry nest being created around it which can not only get you a bunch of points but can also help your team defend a certian spot that might need defending, and will ultimately move your team forward.

Sentries

Naturally, a requriement for being a combat engineer is that you have mini sentries, and therefore the gunslinger. Don't try to be combat engineer with a normal sentry, it's a waste of time and effort.

The big thing about mini sentries is that they are incredibly dispensible and not everyone is going to notice them. So you can slap them down right where you need more fire. However, remember that they are also easy to destroy once someone finds them. Don't keep putting them in the same spot, and remember to place them away from the enemies main focus. If there is a small group of people shooting at the enemy team, or if someone is moving the cart, place it down away from that group so that people don't notice it. Your sentry can't be shot if people don't look at it.

Random note: Also, I will defend points with the sentry. I usually place it down to shoot at people that come to the point, and if another further down point is captured I will destroy that sentry and place a new one down. It may not always be the best choice but if someone else is at the point it can be of help.

Your Primary Weapon

I've found this is more a personal preference. So, here is what I think of the various primary weapons that an engineer can have:

STOCK SHOTGUN:
Best if you are running around and your sentry isn't getting blown up every few seconds.

FRONTIER JUSTICE:
If your sentry is getting shot more than you, go for it. But be ready to have to reload.

WIDOWMAKER:
If you are always getting hits on people, use it. You get more metal so you can keep slapping down sentries.

POMSON 6000:
It's best to use this if you are off hiding somewhere and letting your sentry do all the work. You also don't have to worry about finding ammo to defend yourself. However, expect to get screwed over once someone finds you.

RESCUE RANGER:
Best if you can hide yourself and the only problem your sentry is having is running out of ammo. However, I don't think its best for combat engineer.

Your Secondary Weapon

Yet again, a personal preference. So, here are my thoughts:

STOCK PISTOL*:
Unlike the primary weapons, it doesn't blow with long distance. Good if you just need more ammo or a more precise weapon than the primary weapons.
*Is the same as the Lugermorph

WRANGLER:
Best used if you want to just shoot without reloading or if you don't think your primary can hit the target.

SHORT CIRCUT:
Best if you are defending a building. You probably won't need it as a combat engineer.

Staying Alive

Always remember that you are not invincible, and you are still useful alive. What if your sentry gets blown up? What if you need to repair something?

Here are some basic thoughts:

The easiest way to stay alive while playing combat engineer is keep moving. Its harder to hit a moving target than a stationary target.

Stay in a crowd. Alone, you are screwed, especially if you find more than one other opponent. Also, you will function like a supporting class.

Sacrifice Yourself (When the time comes)

This may be an odd strategy, but remember that you are far from being the most powerful class. You against a demoman or solider means you are screwed. So, how do you kill them? Use their weapons against them.

Its a strange strategy, I know, and it does not always work, but explosives have splash damage that will hurt whoever fired off the explosive. Also, your shotgun is more likely to hit someone the closer you are. If you can run right up next to someone that is missile- or grenade-launcher happy then you might be able to make them blow themselves up. And maybe get an assist while doing so. You can't do all that much if all your buildings are placed, so at least get rid of the more destructive people.

Learning

Ok, now that you have that information, here is my suggestion for figuring out how to apply it.

Play in a trade server. It may sound odd, but they are easy places to learn. It's not like you are being thrown right into the real deal. You get a chance to try things out in a relaxed environment. Most trade servers let you build stuff out of enemy sight, so you can build things without a constant fear of it getting destroyed. There is also no objective to put pressure on to you, and there are more hidey-holes in trade servers.

REMEMBER: Do NOT view this as a rulebook!

Remember that this is purely my approach to playing as combat engineer. These are my suggestions from my experience. Use this guide as a simple suggestion and do not follow it word-for-word. You might find that everything I said in this guide works best for you, but if its the only thing you try you will never know. Test other things out. There are plenty of engineer guides in the TF2 community hub for you to get a taste of what you like.

[Peppernoms]

Someone who used my same sacrifice strategy.....Good guide, though maybe a bit more detail and tips please?